Could Strawberries Prevent Alzheimer's?

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New research in mice suggests a compound found in strawberries and other fruits and vegetables could reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The substance, called fisetin, helps give fruits and vegetables their bright color and has been identified as having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

A study conducted by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, involved mice that had been genetically engineered to age prematurely—mimicking sporadic Alzheimer's disease. One group of mice received a dose of fisetin with their food every day for seven months and the other group did not.

At the end of the study period, mice that didn’t get fisetin had increased markers associated with stress and inflammation and performed significantly worse in cognitive function tests than mice given the compound. In addition to strawberries, fisetin also is found in persimmons, apples, grapes, onions, and cucumbers.